In Gear

I've sorta been working my butt off to make Christmas enjoyable this year.  Makes sense, right?

I'm a procrastinator at heart.  And action.  Whatever.  But so far I have several key Christmas presents currently purchased or on their way from my beloved Amazon AND my Christmas cards are being sent via Snapfish as. we. speak.

See, I told ya.  I am a Christmas Overachiever this year. 

Also, the most expensive cut down tree that we've ever purchased (thank you drought of 2012) is currently on display in our old kitchen.  Which hasn't been remodeled yet, but you know how it is after you live with something for long enough you just learn to ignore stuff?  Well, we ignore the cupboards and sink that no longer works.  Back to the point:  I've even watched a couple Christmas movies.  Elf and A Very Brady Christmas.  Good times.

I'm hoping to soak it all in this year.  Even if it is crazy fast.  We're even attempting to do Ann Voskamps Jesse Tree Avent Calendar.  It's amazing & free.  And by attempting, I mean we've already had to combine days because we missed some because we're like that.  I want to build the anticipation of Jesus' birth.  Because it's about Him.  And along the way, I want to enjoy the celebrations and hoopla and crazy that go along with it. 

Tis the season...

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Christmas

Let's play catch-up, shall we?


I am not the best at living life purposefully.  I should be, since I've read enough books on it...but given my own nature, I tend to live fairly haphazardly.  It actually works pretty well for me, except when it doesn't.


In order to not miss out on anything in the month of December, I decided to be purposeful about our celebrating of Christmas (as purposeful as I get, anyways.)


I made lists.  Hundreds of them, mostly to-do, to-buy, to-bake etc.  But the most important one I made was a sort of bucket list of December.  Specific things to do by myself and as a family before the season was over.  The overall encompassing part for me, was to enjoy the moment of each thing.  Suck the marrow out of every single second, because there is one thing that 2011 taught me...a new moment is never guaranteed.  


The List (parts of it)


#1 - Go chop down a real tree.  

Their faces say it all.  After about 3.2 minutes the boys kept saying "Pick a tree already, they all look the same!"  I made them linger awhile, just for good measure.  After all, I'm the mom, it's my job to do my best at searing this experience into their memory.


#2 - Picture With Santa

We don't even do Santa, but they certainly need a picture with him. :)  Lucy is 19 months here.  She was totally willing to sit on him since he gave her a candy cane.  

#3 - Be Amazed

I miss so much sometimes, because I'm looking for the big things, and ignoring the amazing in the simple things.  Lucy was amazed.




#4 - Enjoy the Hodge-Podge Christmas Tree

Little Miss couldn't help but mess with the ornaments.  We reached an amicable agreement by just leaving the ornaments on the top half of the tree.  


#5 - Family Date Night/Driving Around to Look at Christmas Lights


We went to a favorite pizza joint.  The waitress spilled the entire, enormous glass of ice-water right on Ben's lap.  We laughed so hard.  She ended up giving us our appetizer for free.  The boys congratulated their Dad for "taking one for the team."  We'll likely remember that for years to come.  Afterwards we drove around eating home-made treats and admired peoples Christmas lights.  


#6 - Bake Stuff

Boy did I.  I got a new mixer for my birthday/Christmas.  It just makes baking so much more fun. I tried a bunch of stuff from Pinterest.  It was a Pinterest Christmas for sure.  One of the favorites was home-made cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.  New tradition.

#7 - Church

Our church family is just that...family.  We spent time on a Sunday evening after church, putting up the quirky decorations, eating brownies with peppermint frosting, drinking hot chocolate and laughing together until my sides hurt.  It was one of my favorite parts of this season.  





Also on my list this year was not planning the Christmas program.  A good friend volunteered and did an amazing job.  

#8 - Take Group Shots

I failed miserably at this last year.  In the moment, it's such a pain to make everyone gather around and do it, but it's so worth it later!

So, you get the idea of what some of the list was.  There were several things on the list that didn't get done,  but this year that was by choice...rather than forgetfulness.  It felt good.


I'm in the process of making one for the rest of winter, spring and summer too.  I don't want to forget these moments. 

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I Need A...

I mentioned here, that I have been listening to the Wow Christmas 2011 lately.  I don't know what my deal is this year, but I'm just not in the mood for the regular Christmas songs sung in the regular way.

I sound like Scrooge.

Anyways, there's a ton of songs on that album and several I skip over.  I've been skipping the song I Need A Silent Night every time because it's by Amy Grant...and I'm just not in the mood for Amy Grant.  Yesterday though, in the van, I was distracted and didn't switch my ipod before the song started.  And WHO KNEW that  I would LOVE this song?!?

It's the words.  I relate to it.  All of it.  Christmas sometimes seems like more of a chore than a celebration.  It reminded me I need to take a time out and have a silent night in order to enjoy the season.

Sometimes Mamma needs a time out too.

And on a random note:  I never skip over Go Tell It On The Mountain by needtobreathe or Christmas This Year by Toby Mac. ;)  

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Of Course They Did...

I guarantee you, that this is in fact not how I meticulously arranged my nativity set.

I have a certain eight year old to thank for this lovely display of the baby Jesus' birth.  


Which led me to to sigh my most favorite expression as of late...of course they did...


Boys...they keep life interesting.  Everyone should have at least three.

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Never Too Late...

Guess what?!?

I never showed you Christmas pictures...I was saving them...for January 17th...just for kicks.

You could believe that...or you could believe that I have nothing else to blog about.

You pick.

Here goes...

Christmas Eve with my dad...here's my little bro, me, my sister and dad

Jake on Christmas morning, totally rockin' the Rudolph jammies my mom got him at a garage sale...Ben, settling for a Rudolph nose, but wishing he had Jake's jammies.

Joy and...a bazillion Legos.

Next, is quite possibly the best gift ever. It's a reindeer...that poops jelly beans. Genius.

My parents gave me a Starbucks ornament. Perfection. Also, I do have to say, the pictures I took this year at Christmas' were less than stellar...next year will be better.

And we also ate...a lot...with reindeer antlers on.

And last but not least, is Christmas with Ben's side of the fam. He has 3 sisters and 3 brothers, and most have married and reproduced, obviously. My kids have aunts and uncles and cousins coming out their ears...and I love it that way! It's crazy fun.

And Happy New Year!...17 days into it.

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Tour de Parsonage

The Parsonage: 100 years old, white 2-story, 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, mudroom, kitchen, dining/living room, and the office...which I love to call the office...if only Dwight sat next to me...my blog posts would be so much more interesting...but I am off subject. Again.

Our home is what I like to call cozy. You can't lose anyone it it...even when you might want to. The space issue has helped me to simplify the decorating process. Only stuff that I really love was given the option of living here.

Let the party begin.

The retro white tree actually has presents under it this year. Usually they're hidden upstairs in the closet until Christmas Day...but this year I decided that since I have direct view of the tree from the office I should keep the presents in view...safer that way.

Stockings hung on the mantle shelf with care...

These trees sit on top of my fridge...I think they're adorable.

This tree sits in Noah & Eli's room. It is filled with the felt ornaments that Ben's grandma made for him each year growing up.

And the real reason for all of it...and I'm not just talking about Christmas.

And last but not least, the Christmas card...minus our last name *wink*

For more homes to tour or to join in on the fun, visit Boo Mama's ginormous blog.

Merry Christmas from Life in the Parsonage!

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Try Not to be Intimidated...

Today is show off your tree day. Which makes me smile. When you see my tree...you will know why.

Our regular tree happened to be stored in our basement when tiny-town flooded...goodbye fancy flocked tree with pine cones.

Don't cry for me. I wasn't really a flocked tree kinda girl anyways.

I decided this year we would go to the tree farm and cut it down and haul it home, just like we did when I was growing up.

Then reality hit and I remembered I have a certain destructive three year old that I can barely keep up with. The kids and dog are lucky to be watered, I don't know if I can handle a high maintenance tree.

So instead...we went wild this year.

I give you our white tree.

Where are all your ornaments you ask?!? Two explanations.

1. There's a huge box of ornaments in the attic...I may have mentioned before that I'm not all that sentimental when it comes to that kind of stuff...which helps because...


2. they would just get ruined and broken around here. Jake has already pulled the tree over once when he cast is John Deere magnetic fishing pole into the tree and then "reeled" it in. Lucky for him his mama just had to set it back up. Done. I didn't even re-fluff it.

We're fancy around here...what can I say. ;)

If you'd like to link up and show off your tree head on over to Sara at Butterville! Unless, of course, I've totally intimidated you with my fancy tree *wink wink*

Happy Tuesday! (We have a snow day by the way, which is fun, because it's the first one. Don't talk to me about snow days come February, I will likely break into tears.)

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In a Nutshell...

This time of year is absolute craziness around here. Presents to buy, Cards to be sent out (which haven't been done yet), the church Christmas program (which I'm in charge of and have no skills/gifts/talents in this area what-so-ever...I am so not exaggerating), cleaning/regular household stuff, blogging ;),and just general fun stuff!

Usually, this overwhelms me a bit...shocking, I know. But this year, I'm trying to enjoy the madness of it all. Cramming in all the fun, and trying to savor every last second...not feeling guilty.

So what if I've averaged Starbucks three times a week for awhile, it's a precious treat/reward for all my running around. So what if I've put on a few pounds from eating lots of sugar...I've enjoyed every bite, I'll run it off later...hopefully...So what if it's a little more hurried and crazy...it's crazy fun, and this year...I'm choosing to love it.

Here's my festivities from the past weekend:

Friday night was dinner and shopping with some of my Bible study friends:

Kaya, Brenda, April & Trisha

Sarah, Me, Billie & Cecilia

Saturday was shopping & Starbucks with my sister Lindsey...let me tell you, the mall...it was a zoo!

After that was my nephew Gavin's 1st birthday party! Here's the birthday boy:

Apparently the love of sugar runs in the family...check out my niece Maddy ;)After the party we swung by Steve & Barry's because they are going out of business...which is sad...but I got some GREAT deals!Red puffy winter coat, black pencil skirt, boat neck, long-john jammies, 3 dress shirts for Ben, 2 t-shirt:Ben and 20 wooden hangers for $60...Merry Christmas to me, by the way ;)

Sunday night we all decorated the church...and then snacked...because that's what we do.

...and my handsome hubby. Turns out the rest of the pictures I took of people decorating were of their backsides...which I'll refrain from putting on the Internet, cause I'm nice like that.

Today: Cleaning...and hopefully those Christmas cards will address themselves.

Tomorrow: Big snow storm coming.

Life is good.

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